As France prepares for their FIFA World Cup opener against Senegal, only a few uncertainties linger, particularly regarding the left-wing position.
Marcus Thuram, who has frequently occupied this role—most recently during the Euro 2024 campaign—started in last week’s warm-up match against Ivory Coast. Although his performance hasn’t always been convincing, Didier Deschamps appears ready to make changes. The debate is now focused on who might take over the left flank in the attacking setup.
In the match against Northern Ireland, Désiré Doué was given the nod, but the attack could have been more dynamic. With prominent players like Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, and Michael Olise also on the field, there was a lack of variety in Les Bleus’s play. While Mbappé sought to make runs behind the defense, the others preferred the ball to feet.
In contrast, Bradley Barcola consistently makes runs that stretch defenses, and L’Équipe reports that Deschamps may prefer this profile for its added dynamism. Having participated in Euro 2024, Barcola brings experience to the table and appears to connect better with Mbappé.
This means Barcola could be the one to start over Paris Saint-Germain teammate Doué next week.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle